Syracuse Football: Former Orange head coaches where are they now?
Doug Marrone (2009-2012)
Syracuse Coaching Record: 25-25
Doug Marrone is the one name on the Syracuse coaching list that will jump out to NFL fans. The former Orange head coach leaped to become an NFL head coach for the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars.
First, let’s take a look at his pedigree before ‘Cuse. From 1992-2001 Marrone moved around to seven different college programs as either an O-line or tight ends coach. Finally, Marrone broke into the NFL landscape by landing a job with the New York Jets.
Marrone climbed the ladder and became the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. His offense became an explosive hit, and his team led the league in total offense and passing touchdowns. This style of play enticed the Syracuse football program enough to offer Marrone the spot of head coach.
In 2009, Marrone returned to his alma mater to become the team’s head coach. Marrone was the first alumnus to coach the squad since 1948. Marrone had a slow start to his Syracuse coaching tenure in 2009, but in 2010 his team totaled eight wins which were the most since 2001.
Eventually, in 2012 Marrone would match the 2010 win total of eight and his team went on to win their second Pinstripe Bowl. His success in fundamentally revamping a program led to NFL inquiries.
A local NFL team, the Buffalo Bills, gave Doug Marrone his first NFL head coaching gig. The Bills saw improvement in year two where they totaled nine wins under the direction of Marrone. However, despite Marrone’s accomplishment’s, he decided to opt-out of his contract.
In 2015, Doug Marrone took his talents to Jacksonville as the assistant head coach. These responsibilities were increased to interim head coach once Gus Bradley was fired. Now, Doug Marrone remains the head coach of the Jaguars after varying levels of success.
Over his coaching span, the Jaguars have a 17-20 record, with one playoff appearance which resulted in a loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.